Officers and public commended for their bravery and dedication in Wolverhampton

The actions of 31 officers earned them commendations at the Wolverhampton police awards on Monday.

Pcs Ashley Lefarge-Jones and Thomas Fleming were investigating reports of a suicidally-minded man disappearing from his address when they spotted a door handle on the living room wall but no door.

Pc Lefarge-Jones pulled the handle and found a concealed door that had been wall papered over to blend in with the rest of the decor. Inside was a boiler cupboard and a seemingly lifeless body that was quickly removed by the two officers.

He owes his survival to the pair who both started CPR and managed to get him breathing again in the nick of time. Each got a Commander's Commendation.

Ladbrokes were on to a winner when Acting Sergeant Chris Stokes was put on the case after £76,000 went missing from their branch in Bilston.

He spent months understanding the working practices and systems that had been manipulated by its then manager, discovering how the fraud worked.

As a result the culprit was convicted of fraud and jailed for two years with a proceeds of crime hearing set to follow.

Acting Sgt Stokes received a second Excellence in Service Delivery Award – this time with local investigation team colleagues Pcs Salma Begum, Paul Blanchette and Claire Gibbons – for their work in nailing a trickster wanted for 55 fraud offences against vulnerable elderly people in Wolverhampton and Staffordshire involving £85,000. The 36-year-old, who has been in the police for nine years and is supervisor of a 12-strong team, said: "It is really good the police recognise the efforts the staff make, especially now there are less officers who are expected to achieve more."

Pc Emily-Jayne Parker picked up a similar award after investigating and preparing the water tight case that left five men admitting involvement in a near £1.5 million cannabis farm found in Park Lane, Wolverhampton. They have pleaded guilty and are currently awaiting sentence.

The 36-year, who old has been a police officer for 15 years, said: "A job of this size would normally have been dealt with by CID but it was given to me. I spent months and months on it.

"I really enjoyed it. Awards such as this make you feel appreciated. I don't think the public understand how much work one case can involve."

There was also recognition for members of the public like the shy have-a-go hero whose bravery helped to detain a violent man wanted for an attempted murder in Poland and won him a Good Citizen Award from grateful police chiefs. He asked not to be identified but sprang into action when the individual picked up a TV, held it above his head and started yelling at the Perfect Home Store in Wolverhampton City Centre's Mander Centre.

The person shouted in Polish accent, bared his teeth and hurled the television to the ground, alarming customers and passers-by. But the award-winner stood his ground, trying to calm the situation after backing the man into a corner as people ran for cover before helping five security staff detain the frenzied Pole.